The Rangitikei Advocate. TWO EDITIONS DAILY. FRIDAY, FEB. 13, 1920. SEIZING OPPORTUNITIES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 12000, 13 February 1920, Page 4

The Rangitikei Advocate. TWO EDITIONS DAILY. FRIDAY, FEB. 13, 1920. SEIZING OPPORTUNITIES.

OUR times promise to be known to the future historian as a new age of romance. The turmoil among the nations resulting from the great war has created opportunities for the adventurous, and the men to take advantage of them have come into prominence. The mad poet D’Annunzio has produced many subjects for melodrama, and incidentally has shaken a throne, and aroused the patriotic enthusiasm of his people. The swashbucklers, Lenm and Trotsky, have seized almost absolute control of the great territory lately known as the Russian Empire ,and are apparently aiming at the creation of dynasties which shall possess autocratic rule. The crash of the throne of the Romanoffs and the murder of the last Czar resulted in proving once again that tne Russians can bo ruled only by an autocrat, and that as yet they do not understand the meaning of liberty. The Czar’s grandfather liberated the serfs, and was slain by the agents of the ruling classes, and now the two leaders, who, have sprung from the people, show that they realise that their best chance of permanent success lies in again establishing serfdom of a kind that shall organise the workers in factories as an industrial army, moveable from place to place as occasion may require, and turn the peasants into a labour corps under military discipline. It was alleged that Bolshevism was a movement for liberty, and as such it was extolled by extremists, even in our own" country, but it has already shown that its aim is the destruction of liberty, and the establishment of slavery by force of arms. In the East—always productive of surprises —a pretender has arisen, who may obtain a very strong following, and gain control of a vast area, for his claims are such as appeal to the Oriental mind. He claims to be a descendant of the famous Tamerlane, that romantic figure who about 600 years ago created a vast Empire, conquering Persia, Central Asia, and a great part of India, snd who was about to invade China, when he died, and the historian states that his body “was embalmed with musk and rose water, wrapped in linen, laid in an ebony coffin, and sent to Samarkand, where it was buried.” He had carried his victorious arms, during forty years, from the Irtish and the Volga to the Persian Gulf on the one side, and on the other from the Hellespont to the Gauges. Samarkand was the capital of his empire, and i.t is there that the” new Tamerlane has proclaimed himself, and declared that he too will carry his campaign to the Ganges. Famous plays have been written on the life story of “the lame Timur” or Tamerlane, whose father was distinguished among his fellow-clans-men as the first convert to Islamism. In these days when thrones have been lost, dynasties, destroyed, and old-established institutions are in the melting-pot, the appearance of a pretender in the inflammable East is a matter of more than passing importance, especially in view of the fact that a new and great maritime nation apparently only waiting for opportunity to attempt to dominate Asia. e-

A~continned decrease of influenza oases is reported from all centres. The men at Wbakatane Freezing Works resumed duty after being idle for about a week.

The Mokoia will !rot leave Wellington with the Parliamentary Party for Samoa till Monday afternoon.

" As a protest against the increased price of petrol'without right to increase fares, the proprietors of taxicabs have withdrawn their vehicles from the London streets for 24 hours.

At Wanganui Supreme. Court yesterday Lottie Annie Taylor, convicted of taking a child out of lawful custody, was ordered to come up for sentence when called on.

I'.Tfae ferry steamer Maori was held up at Lyttelton yesterday, owing to the, fact that steam could not be raised till the vessel was recoaled with better quality, which meant unloading 70 tons and reloading. Surgeon-Gen era) Skerman and Mrs Sherman were visitors to Marton yesterday, and were warmly welcomed by friends, after their lengthy sojourn in Samoa. Thev proceeded to-day to Castle cilff, where they intend to reside.

Good entries have been received for Waimarino A. and P. Show, and it is notified that late entries will be received up to Saturday. There are very liberal special prizes, and everything points to a successful show. Railroad Administrator Hines refused to grant wage increases de manded by two million American railway workers, on the ground that the rail administration could not economically grant such increases in view of the fact that railroads would soon revert to private ownership.

Marton will be favoured with a Chautauqua this year. A local committee has been ‘ formed, and on the committee invites the ladies and gentlemen of the district to a meeting in the Coronation Hall this evening to arrange details and to explain the movement. Admiral Sims, before the Naval Decorations Investigation Committee, denied that he had ever belittled the American war effort. He attempted, however, for reasons of international courtes3’’, to check American visitors who thought that the United States was doing everything.

Washington reports that the Director of ,„' Naval Aviation, Admiral Grave, has asked Congress to appropriate 3,500,000 dollars to enable the Naval Department to build a dirigible 69 feet long, with an approximate gas volume of 2,700,000 cubic feet. The machine will cost 800,000 dollars annually for'maintenance The Polish Parliament passed a Bill excluding from citizenship 100, 000 Jews, formerly residing in Russian Poland, who have not registered as permanent residents under the old Russian law. English Jews protest that this means they are liahle to have their property confiscated as foreigners, though ’ still liable to taxation and military service. Turakina should he the rendezvous of a large number of pleasure-seekers to-morrow, when the Caledonian Society hold sports on Mr J. H. McLeanVproperty. The programme is a lengthy and attractive one, and starts at 10,30. Refreshments may he obtained on the ground, and a big Caledonian Concert is to be held in the evening. The Minister for Defence has received advice that Captain Hall Thompson, formerly Naval Adviser to the New Zealand Government, has been appointed to the command of H. M. S, Erin, one of the latest battleships. The Erin is a vessel of 25,000 tons displacement 550 ft long by 95ft beam, and carries ten 13.5inch heavy guns and sixteen 6-iuch guns

Charles Gra3'udler, well-known in Labour circles, charged with illtreating his 14-year-old son, was unable to appear in Court at Wellington yesterday, as he was in [hospital suffering from influenza. A remand was granted. The police intimated that two similar charges in respect of a thirteen year-old sou and an eight-year-old daughter had boon lodged against Grayndler.

There was a sensational occurrence in the Court at Cromwell on Wednesday, when a young man named Kirkmaa was being charged with forging and uttering. He suddenly drew a razor and inflicted a fearful gash in his arm. He was seized by a constable, and the Magistrate (Mr Mosley) rendered first aid The man was in a state of collapse when taken to the hospital. The Dargaville Chamber of Commence has passed the following motion: ‘‘That a letter be sent to the Auckland Provincial Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union suggesting, in view of the difficult3 r of obtaining reliable sheep dip, that the Government be urged to acquire the right to manufacture White’s fluid dip, which is not now being made, and the formula offered for sale. ”

An extraordinary catch was effected in the sub-district match at Footsoray between Footscray and Caulfield (saj'S the Melbourne Argus). Jousaon, of Footscray, tbe highest scorer iu the match, had made 47 'runs when he? cut a ball from Crawley bard towards point, Huntington was fielding there. He put out his hand to take the catch but failed to hold it. The hall, however, ran down his arm and dropped into his pocket, and the batsman was out.

Yesterday Angus' John McCurdy and Flora Mary McUurdy were proceeded against In’ Robert Semple on charges that they published in the Hutt Yalley Independent untrue statements of and concerning ' Mr Semple, and calculated to influence the votes of electors, as follows ‘‘l am a German and proud of it”— Semple at Auckland during the 1914 strike, but at Upper Hutt tbe other night he posed as an Australian. But he is not the only Red Fed Australian with Hun blood in his veins.” The cases were adjourned. McGruer’s ore making final reductions on ali millinery this week. Every hat must be sold. See the five shilling lot in the window —a snip every one. Remember McGruer’s for genuine sale redactions.* Something too good to miss is offered by The Economic (Low and Gregory), Marton. Fiftj' only washing frocks to fit girls up to about 8 years of age are clearing at 2s lid each. These are well made of strong materials. Also ladies’ morning glorj - gowns at 7s lid each, and one only Kaiapoi costume in grey light weight tweed for 14s lid.* .j

Britain has prohibited the i raportien of Japanese shaving brushes

A London Gazette gives January 10th, 1930, as the official date of the termination of war with Germany.

Britain in January paid off £SO, 000,000 of her debt ouik of surplus revenue.

The Australian Workers’ Union Conference, on the committee’s report, definitely turned down the formation of One Big Union. Sir Ross Smith has completed repairs to his machine, and flow from Charleville to Bourke, en route south. He is expected at Sydney on Saturday, The Victoria State Premier, replying to a deputation favouring a Prince of Wales’ highway between Melbourne and Sydney, said it would cost Victoria £90,000 and take two years to complete. Mr Walter Price, manager for the Marvellous Cremona Family of musioianns (10 in number) is at present in Marton making arrangements for their appearance here early in March The company have just finished a successful season in the Town Hall, Auckland, Full particulars will ap.pear in futrfre issues. Yesterday Norman Ross won the 100 yards swimming championship of Australia in He also established a new 150 yards Australian record of Imiu i)3 1 sseo. He is expected to arrive in New Zealand on March Ist and probably carnivals will be arranged in Wellington, Palmerston North, Napier, Hamilton, and Auckland.